Fiscal Update and Assessment

April 19, 2018

According to APEC’s review of this year’s provincial budgets, there remains a wide variation in the current fiscal situation of the four Atlantic provinces. The projected fiscal balance in 2018/2019 ranges from a surplus of $29 million in Nova Scotia to a deficit of $683 million in Newfoundland and Labrador. APEC urges the provinces to provide a longer term, baseline fiscal projection, ideally for 20-25 years. To accompany the projection, the provinces should provide a long term fiscal plan and an assessment of the current fiscal competitiveness for each province to ensure fiscal sustainability.